It’s easy for job seekers to find advice and tips on Dice. But is the information helpful or just a bunch of empty words? Look at it this way, we all know that diet and exercise are important to our health, but certainly some of us aren't heeding that guidance. Plus, your doctor may tell you to exercise at least three times a week, but he probably lets you choose between jogging and biking. The point is, each professional has a unique value proposition, set of liabilities and interviewing style, so it’s up to you to assess your situation and incorporate relevant advice and recommendations into your job-search strategy and campaign. Since most advice is based on a combination of surveys, data and anecdotal evidence, here are three ways to use the information to bolster your search. Identify Trends You can’t maximize your strengths or mitigate your weaknesses unless you know how employers are identifying and selecting candidates. For example, you may need to clean-up your online information, because more employers are running social media checks on applicants. And don’t turn off your mobile because mobile recruiting is on the rise.  While you're at it, don't forget to create a personal brand. Tailor your Approach Data shows that networking is still the best way for IT professionals to land a job, but you might need some tips and a nudge to get started if you’re painfully shy. And hopefully you’re researching the market, targeting specific employers and touting your business acumen and ROI, because both recruiters and CIOs say these are critical traits. Validation and Inspiration It's hard to find a job even if you follow our advice completely, so it’s good to know that you're on the right track and not alone. At the very least, you can glean inspiration from reading the articles and the comments from other job seekers. In fact, you never know when you might make a connection that turns into a lead or an unadvertised job opportunity.